Single-stage vacuum cleaner



Sept. 22, 1959 P. w.- THOMPSON SINGLE-STAGE VACUUM CLEANER Filed oct.17, 19.57

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SINGLE-STAGE VACUUM CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 17, 1957/m/e/z'lf- Pac/'2e Hf. Thom/05017, by @j VN? Atto/Hey l Pfff..

nited States .'Fatent SINGLE-STAGE VACUUM CLEANER Paige W. Thompson,Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation ofNew York Application Getober 17, 1957, Serial No. 690,652

Claims. (Cl. 18S-37) This invention relates to vacuum cleaning apparatus-and more particularly to an improved canister-type vacuum cleaner.

y Vacuum cleaners for home use have been the subject of muchinvestigation and research over the years. However, it has not to datebeen found feasible to decrease their 'size Iand weight to a point whereit is easy for the housewife to lift the Vacuum cleaner and carry itwith her wherever she wishes to clean in the house. One cause of thisdifliculty has been that vacuum cleaners of the canister and tank typeshave in the past generally had a two-stage fan arrangement whichrequired more room and more weight than would be necessary for asingle-stage construction. It is most desirable to ycut the number offan stages down to the minimum of one without adverse effect on theoperation of the cleaner.

Another factor increasing the weight and volume of vacuum cleaners hasbeen the requirement by the public .of both blower and suction action.This has previously required relatively complex constructions involvingconsiderable added cost in manufacture. It is important that the featureof quick and easy `selection of either blowing or suction by the user beretained with, however, elimination of as many parts as possible to keepthe weight and bulk of the cleaner as a whole down to a minimum asexplained above.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide an improvedvacuum cleaner which will incorporate all the required elements andwhich will provide good performance while utilizing a minimum number ofcomponents and taking up a minimum amount of space.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vacuum cleanerdesigned sol that each element of the vacuum .cleaner performs aseffectively as possible. For instance, it is an object of the inventionto provide a vacuum cleaner where the fan housing is formed partly bythe outer vacuum cleaner housing and partly by the member which securesthe motor in place within the casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangementfor permitting selection of blower or :suction action quickly and easilyby use of a construction with involves a minimum number of components.

In one aspect thereof, the invention provides'a vacuum cleaner whichincludes first and second casing members positioned to form aninclosure. The first casing member has a dish-'like shape. An electricmotor is positioned within the inclosure substantially concentric withand adjacent the inner surface of the first casing member. A radial typefan is mounted to be driven fby the motor shaft. The fan is preferablyof the singlestage type which permits the minimum number of elements and:space to be used. A dished rigid sheet member is secured to the firstcasing member within the inclosure. The sheet member and the firstcasing member form between them a fan housing and diffusion chamberwhich communicates with the remainder ofthe inclosure only through thefan. The remainder of the inclosure then forms a dust bag receivingchamber which extends around the motor and within the fan housing anddiffusion chamber. The first casing member has an opening communicatingwith the fan housing and diffusion chamber to permit the escape of airmoved by the fan; one of the two casing members has a second openingwhich communicates with the bag receiving chamber through which the airis drawn in by the fan.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are setforth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itselfhowever, both as to its organization and method of operation togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view, partly broken away and partlyin cross section, of the improved vacuum cleaner of this invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view in perspective of the improved vacuumcleaner;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of part of theapparatus shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View in perspective showing a modifiedconstruction for selecting blower or suction action;

Figure 5 is a View along line 5 5 in Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a view along line `6 6 in Figure 4.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2, Iand 3 of the drawings, there is shown avacuum cleaner of the canister type which includes a pair of casingmembers 1 and 2 which cooperate as shown to from an inclosure 3. Casingmember 2 has a generally dish-like shape while casing member 1 is in theform of a cover. The cover casing member 1 may have a suitable handle 4provided in an indentation 5 to facilitate lifting of the cleaner. Thetwo casing members are removably secured to each other by any desiredmeans, such as, for instance, a combination of latch member 6 on cover 1and engaging member 7 pivotally secured on pin 8 of casing member 2 byspring 9. The lower casing member 2 may be supported in any appropriatemanner which permits it to be moved across a floor, such as, forinstance, by runners 10.

Casing member 2 has its edge 4shaped into a re-entrant flange 11 withopenings 12 spaced around the periphery thereof, as shown. Casing member2 also has an opening 13. A member 14 of rigid sheet material having asubstantially dished configuration is positioned within inclosure 3 andis rigidly secured to casing 2 in any appropriate manner, such as byspot welding it to casing 2 at a number of points 1S, as shown. 'Thesheet member 14 extends up beyond the re-entrant flange 11 of covermember 2 and terminates in an outwardly extending flange 16 which isabove and spaced from flange 11. The edge of flange 11 engages the'surface ofl sheet member 14 over the entire peripheryk of the vacuumcleaner so that together they form a chamber which is closed at itsouter end except for openings 12 and 13.

Sheet member 14 has a central opening 54 which is bordered by theinwardly turned flange 17 thereof. A motor, generally indicated at 18,is positioned concentrically with opening 54 within inclosure 3. Whilevits construction is not a part of the invention, motor 18 is generallyof the alternating current series type with an armature 19, a commutator20 and brushes 21. The functioning off such motors is well known in theart and thus will not be described herein other than to state that whenthe motor 18 is connected to a suitable source of electrical power,armature 19 and shaft 22 rotate.` The motor parts are secured within asuitable housing construction23 which includes bearing means, generallyindicated 'at 24, for rotatably supporting the shaft 22. The

housing 23 has secured about it appropriate resilient mounting means 25provided with a peripheral slot 26. Flange 17 of sheet member 14 issecured firmly within the slot 26. With this arrangement, the motor 18is `resiliently but securely mounted within the casing member 2substantially concentric therewith by engagement of its resilientmounting 2S with llange 17 of member 14.

Mounted at the lower end of shaft 22 is a single-stage impeller 27 ofthe radial fan type. This impeller is positioned substantiallyconcentric with and adjacent the inner surface of casing member 2. Withthis arrangement the at portion 28, which has a diameter substantiallygreater than that of the motor and which forms the bottom of the dishedconfiguration of casing member 2, provides a portion of the housingneeded for the impeller 27. It can be seen that the dished configurationof the casing member 2 and the positioning of the impeller permit theuse of an impeller of large diameter (substantially larger than thediameter or" motor 18) and thus one which, for a given speed ofrotation, will be a highly effective mover of air.

Member 29, which forms a part of the motor assembly 18, extends towardthe inlet 30 of impeller 27 so as to form a rotating seal with the inneredge of the impeller. With this construction, there is now provided afan housing which, on one side of impeller 27, is provided by portion 28of casing member 2, and on the other side is provided primarily byportion 31 of sheet member 14 in combination with member 29. In additionto their other functions, members 2 and 14 cooperate to provide adiffusion chamber portion 32 and a plenum chamber 33 which communicateswith openings 12 and 13. Thus, the casing member and the motor mountingmember perform the added functions of completing the fan housing, thediffusion chamber, and the plenum chamber. In addition, the arrangementand configuration permit use of a large single-stage impeller which usesonly a small portion of the inclosure 3. lt will also be noted that theonly connection of the diffusion and plenum chambers with the remainderof inclosure 3, which constitutes the space for the dust receiving bagand will henceforth be designated by the numeral 34, is through themotor assembly 18 and fan inlet 30.

Substantially filling the space 34 is a dust retaining bag 35 made ofsuitably porous paper, fabric or like material. The bag is generallytoroidal; the radially outer surface is against the member 14 while theradially inner surface is against a screen 36 which is customarily(although not necessarily) provided about the motor assembly 18 asfurther protection from dust and dirt.

Flange 16 of sheet member 14 retains an annular gasket member 37 whichin turn engages the top cover member 1 by engagement with an inwardlyextending flange 38 thereof. This provides a tight seal for the topcover member with sheet member 14 so that, in effect, the only exit forair which has entered by chamber 34 through opening 39 in casing member1 is through the fan inlet 30. Bag 35 positioned in chamber 34 has anopening 53 provided therein with a piece of stiff cardboard 40 securedabout the opening. A clamping spring 41 is secured to sheet member 14 sothat when the bag is properly inserted in chamber 34, the cardboard part40 is clipped between spring member 41 and an upstanding portion 42which is also secured to the sheet member 14. With this arrangement theopening 53 of bag 35 is secured substantially in alignment with opening39. It is then simple matter to insert the end of a hose 43 throughopening 39 until it extends into the opening 53. The extent to whichhose 43 may be inserted is controlled in any well known manner such asby a resilient ring 44 secured to the hose; when the ring comes intoabutment with casing member 1 further entry of the hose into the openingis precluded. The hose 43 is preferably secured in the opening by anyappropriate means such as, for instance, latch members 45 which aresecured on springs 46 and which may be depressed by a button 47 when it4 is desired to pull the hose back out of opening 39. Openings 39 and 13are the same size so that when it is so desired hose 43 can be insertedin opening 13.

An annular ring member 48 is formed to lie snugly but siidably on llange11. Ring 48 has openings 49 formed therein which are preferably ofsubstantially the same dimensions as openings 12 and have spaces 50between them similar to the spaces 51 between openings 12. Ring 48 isalso provided with a closure cap 52 which can be used as a handle formoving ring 4S as shown by the arrow in Figure 3. When the ring ispositioned so that cap 52 is next to opening 13, that is, opening 13 isuncovered, openings 49 and 12 are out of registry with each other andflange 11 and ring 48 combine to form a substantially complete closure.This causes opening 13 to be the only exit for the air moved by theimpeller. Thus, when it is desired to use the vacuum cleaner as ablower, hose 43 is inserted in opening 13 and receives the entire outputof the fan 27 with the air entering through opening 39, passing throughthe bag 35 and motor assembly 18, and then into the fan inlet 30.

When the ring 43 is moved until cap 52 covers opening 13 as shown inFigure l, openings 49 and 12 coincide to provide an exit for the airaround the entire vacuum cleaner, thus providing a large output area andpermitting the fan to work very effectively. With this arrangement, thehose is secured within opening 39 as shown in Figure l so that thevacuum cleaner provides suction at the other end of the hose (notshown).

Referring now to Figures 4, 5, and 6, an alternative construction forselectively obtaining the blower-suction effect is illustrated. ln thedescription of this modification, all parts not illustrated are the sameas in Figures l, 2, and 3; also, all parts which are illustrated and arethe same as those of Figures l, 2, and 3 have the same numerals. in thisembodiment, the upper portion of the casing member 2 has an opening 55with a tubular member 56 secured therein extending both outside andinside of the casing member 2, as shown. On the part of tubular member56 which extends outside casing 2, a pair of 0ppositely positionedopenings 57 are provided to receive the latch members 45 of the hose 43;when the hose, which has its end portion 58 of smaller diameter than theinside diameter of tubular member 56, is inserted in the tubular member,the latches 45 snap into the openings 57 to secure the hose in position.

Within the casing member 2, tubular member 56 is provided on one sidethereof with an opening 59 of substantial proportions. Hose 43 is formedso that when gasket member 44 abuts against the end of tubular member 56the inner end of the hose does not obstruct the opening 59. The openinner end of the tubular member 56 is positioned in slidable relation toa at plate member 60 which is also mounted in slidable relation tomember 14. The relative movement is eiected by the engagement of rivets61--which are secured to sheet member 14-in slots 62 formed in member6i). Member `60 has an opening 63 formed therein which, when the partsare in the position shown in Figure 4, is aligned with opening 65 inmember 14 and with the open inner end of tubular member 56. When member60 is moved to the right (as viewed in Figure 4) opening 63 is moved'out of alignment with the tubular member and opening 65 which aretherefore closed by the member' 60.

Rigidly secured to member 60 and movable therewith is a curved member 66which is preferably provided with a relatively soft sealing surface 67of rubber or the like. With the parts in the position of Figure 4,surface 67 vof part 66 iits over the opening 59 in tubular member 56 andcloses that opening so that there is no direct communication between thespace inside tubular member 56 and that in the plenum chamber 33.

A flange portion 68 is secured to part 66; through one of the openingsI12 in ange 11, liange 68 is secured to a member 69 by suitable meanssuch as screws 70.

`in Figure 4 and in Figures 5 and 6.

eg a Member 69 is annular, or ringshaped, and extends all the way aroundthe rvacuum cleaner. It is formed of two parts 71 and 72 at right anglesto each other. Part 71 has openings 73 formed therein at intervals, andpart 72 has openings 74 formed therein at intervals, openings 73 and 74being offset from each other as shown in Figure 4. Part 72 lslides onfiange 11 of casing member 2 in response to manual actuation of handle78 which is rigidly secured to member 69; in the position shown in solidoutline in Figure 4 the openings 74 of part 72 and 12 of flange 11coincide to connect the interior of the plenum chamber 33 to theatmosphere. In the position shown in dotted outline, the openings '74and 12 are offset so as to shut o the openings 12 of flange 1l.

Openings 76 are formed in upwardly extending portion 77 of sheet member14 and are aligned with the openings 12 of flange 11. Part 71 is inslidable relation to portion '77; with this arrangement, in the positionshown in solid outline in Figure 4, openings 73 of part 71 and 76 ofportion 77 are out of alignment so that no opening remains. However,when the parts are moved to the position shown in dotted outline,openings 76 and 73 become aligned with each other to provide an openingthrough to the interior of the vacuum cleaner.

When the regular suction cleaning action is desired, the parts are setin the position shown in solid outline In this position, the fanprovided in the vacuum cleaner explained in connection with Figures l to3 will pull the air in from yhose 43 through the tubular member 56,through aligned openings 63 and 65, and into the interior of the cleanerwhere the air passes through the motor and fan and is forced out to theplenum chamber 33. Openings 74 and 12 are aligned so that the air maythen escape all around the periphery of the vacuum cleaner. Part 66keeps opening 59 in tubular member S6 closed to insure the properpassage of the air through the tubular member to the interior of thecleaner.

If blower action should be desired instead of suction action, the onlyoperation necessary is to move handle 78 from the position shown insolid outline in Figure 4 to the position shown in dotted outlinetherein. With this arrangement, part 60 is moved to block opening 65. Atthe same time, part 66 has freed the opening 59. The movement of handle78 has also caused alignment of openings 76 and 73 so that air can bepulled in by the fan through these aligned openings and then dischargedinto the plenum 33 as before. Now however, the openings 12 and 74 are nolonger aligned so that air can not escape through those openings.Instead the only means of escape for the air is through the opening 59and out through the tubular member 56 and the hose 43. Thus, the simplemovement of handle 7S shown in Figure 4 effects the conversion from asuction unit to a blower unit.

It can thus be seen that the provision of either suction `or bloweraction, at the discretion of the user, has been made with a minimum ofsimply formed parts.

While the invention has been explained by describing a particularembodiment thereof, it will be apparent that `improvements andmodifications may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims:

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

l. A vacuum cleaner comprising first and second casing memberspositioned to form an inclosure, said first casing member having adished configuration, an electric motor mounted within said inclosuresubstantially concentric with and adjacent the inner surface of saidfirst casing member, a radial type fan mounted to be driven by saidmotor substantially concentric therewith, a rigid sheet member ofgenerally dished configuration secured to said first casing memberwithin said inclosure, said sheet member and said first casing memberforming between them a housing for said fan and a diffusion chantd berconnected to the remainder of said inclosure only through said fan, `theremainder of said inclosure forming a dust bag receiving chamber, saidfirst casing member having an opening communicating with said fanhousing and diffusion chamber, one of said casing members having anopening communicating with said bag receiving chamber.

2. A vacuum cleaner comprising first and second casing memberspositioned to form an inclosure, said first casing member having adished configuration, an electric motor mounted substantially concentricwith said first casing member within said inclosure, a rotatable shaftextending from said motor, a radial type fan mounted substantiallyconcentric with said motor on said shaft, said first casing memberhaving a central fiat portion of substantially greater diameter thansaid motor, said fan being adjacent said inner surface of said flatportion and having a diameter substantially greater than the diameter ofsaid motor, a rigid sheet member of dished configuration secured to saidfirst casing member within said inclosure, said rigid sheet member andsaid first casing member forming between them a fan housing anddiffusion chamber connected to the remainder of said inclosure onlythrough said fan, the remainder of said inclosure having a substantiallytoroidal shape extending about said motor and forming a dust receivingchamber, said first casing member having an opening communicating withsaid fan housing and diffusion chamber, one of said casing membershaving an opening communicating with said bag receiving chamber.

3. A vacuum cleaner comprising first and second casing memberspositioned to form an inclosure, said first casing member having adished congur-ation, a rigid sheet member secured to said first casingmember within said inclosure, said rigid sheet member havingsubstantially dished configuration with a `central opening, an electricmotor positioned within said sheet member opening and secured to saidsheet member, a radial type fan drivably mounted to said motor andpositioned concentric with and adjacent the inner surface of said firstcasing member, said sheet member and said first casing member formingbetween them the housing for said fan and further forming a diffusionchamber for air driven by said fan, said chamber being connected to theremainder of said inclosure only through said fan, the remainder of saidinclosure forming a dust bag receiving chamber of substantially toroidalform between said motor and said chamber, said `first casing memberhaving an opening communicating with s-aid fan housing and diffusionchamber, one of said casing members having an opening communicating withsaid bag receiving chamber.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3 in which said motor has a resilientmounting secured about it, said sheet member being secured Lto saidresilient mounting and constituting the only support for said motorwhereby said motor is resiliently positioned within said inclosure bysaid sheet member.

5 A vacuum cleaner comprising first and second casing members positionedto form an inclosure, said first casing member having a dishedconfiguration, an electric motor mounted within said inclosure andhaving `a rotatable shaft, a radial type fan mounted on said shaftsubstantially concentric with and adjacent the inner surface of saidfirst casing member, a dished rigid sheet member secured to said firstcasing member within said inclosure, said first casing member having aninwardly turned flange around the periphery thereof, said sheet memberextending up beyond said inwardly turned flange in contact therewith soas to form a closure and termi nating in an outwardly extending flangespaced from said inwardly extending flange, said second casing memberbeing secured to said sheet member outwardly extending flange, saidsheet member and said first casing member forming between them a f-anhousing, diffusion chamber,

and plenum chamber which are connected to the remainder of saidinclosure only through said fan, the remainder of said inclosure forminga dust receiving chamber, said first c-asing member having an openingtherein communicating with said plenum chamber, one of said casingmembers having an opening communicating with said bag receiving chamber.

6. A vacuum cleaner comprising first and second casing memberspositioned to form an inclosure, said iirst casing member having adished configuration, an electric motor mounted within said inclosureand having a rotatable shaft, a radial type fan mounted on said shaftsubstantially concentric with and adjacent the inner surface of said rstcasing member, a dished rigid sheet member secured to said first casingmember within said inclosure, said first casing member having aninwardly turned iiange around the periphery thereof, said sheet memberextending up beyond said inwardly turned flange in contact therewith soas to form a closure and terminating in an outwardly extending iiangespaced from said inwardly extending flange, said second casing memberbeing secured to said sheet member outwardly extending flange, saidsheet member and said iirst casing member forming between them a fanhousing, diiusion chamber, and plenum chamber which are connected to theremainder of said inclosure only through said fan, the remainder of saidinclosure forming a dust receiving chamber, said 'first casing memberhaving a plurality of spaced openings formed in said flange thereof,said first casing member also having another opening communicating withsaid plenum chamber, an annular member overlying said flange and havinga plurality of spaced openinvs formed therein, said annular member beingmovable relative to said casing members, the openings of said annularmember yand said casing member flange coinciding in one position of saidannular member and being out of register in another position of saidannular member so that there are no openings provided by the combinationof said flange and said annular member, said second casing member havingan opening communicating with said bag receiving chamber.

7. A vacuum cleaner comprising first and second casing memberspositioned to form an inclosure, said iirst casing member having adished configuration, an electric motor mounted within said inclosureand having a rotatable shaft, a radial type fan mounted on said shaftsubstantially concentric with and adjacent the inner surface of saidfirst casing member, said iirst casing member having an inwardlyextending flange extending around the periphery thereof, a dished rigidsheet member secured to said first casing member within said inclosure,said sheet member extending up beyond said inwardly turned tiange andbeing in contact therewith around the periphery of said vacuum cleaner,said sheet member and said lirst casing member forming between them afan housing, diffusion chamber, and plenum chamber all connected to theremainder of said inclosurc only through said fan, the remainder of saidinclosure forming a dust bag receiving chamber, said first casing memberhaving a plurality of spaced openings formed in said flange thereof,said first casing member also having another opening communieating withsaid plenum chamber, an annular member overlying said ilange and havinga plurality of spaced openings formed therein, said `annular memberbeing movable relative to said casing members, the openings of saidannular member and said casing member flange coinciding in one positionof said annular member and being out of register in another position ofsaid annular member so that there are no openings provided by thecombination of said flange and said annular member, said second casingmember having an opening communieating with said bag receiving chamber.

8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 7 in which a closure member for saidother opening of said first casing member is secured to said annularmember, said closure member being positioned over said other opening ofsaid first casing member to close the same when said annular member andsaid flange have their openings coinciding with each other and beingremoved from said other opening in said first casing member when saidannular member and said fiange have their openings out of registry witheach other.

9. A vacuum cleaner comprising first and second casing memberspositioned to form an inclosure, said iirst casing member having adished configuration, an electric motor mounted within said inclosureand having a rotatable shaft, a radial type fan mounted on said shaftsubstantially concentric with and `adjacent the inner surface of saidfirst casing member, a dished rigid sheet member secured to said iirstcasing member within said inclosure, said first casing member having aninwardly turned flange around the periphery thereof, said sheet memberhaving a portion extending upwardly beyond said inwardly turned iiangein contact therewith around the periphery of said vacuum cleaner so asto form a closure, said sheet member and said rst casing member formingbetween them a fan housing, diriusion chamber, and plenum chamber allconnected to the remainder of said inclosure only through said fan, theremainder of said inclosure forming a dust receiving chamber, an openingin said first casing member, a tubular member extending from said firstcasing member opening into said plenum chamber, movable means providingcommunication between the inside of said tubular member and said plenumchamber in a rst position and providing communication between the insideof said tubular member and said dust receiving chamber in a secondposition, said first casing member having a plurality of spaced openingsformed in said inwardly turned iiange thereof, said sheet member havinga plurality of spaced openings formed in said upwardly extending portionthereof, an annular member overlying said inwardly extending iiange andsaid upwardly extending portion, said annular member having twopluralities of spaced openings formed therein7 said annular member beingmovable relative to said casing members, one of said pluralities ofopenings of said annular member and said plurality of openings of saidcasing member flange coinciding in one position of said ring and beingof register in a second position of said ring so that there are noopenings provided by the combination of said iiange and said annularmember, the second plurality of openings of said annular member and saidplurality of openings of said sheet member upwardly extending portioncoinciding in said second position of said annular member and being outof register in said iirst position of said annular member so that thereare no openings provided by the combination of said upwardly extendingportion and said annular member.

l0. A vacuum cleaner comprising first and second casing memberspositioned to form an inclosure, said first casing member having adished configuration, an electric motor mounted within said inclosureand having a rotatable shaft, a radial type fan mounted on said shaftsubstantially concentric with and adjacent the inner surface of saidlirst casing member, a dished rigid sheet member secured to said firstcasing member within said inclosure, said first casing member having aninwardly turned flange around the periphery thereof, said sheet memberhaving a portion extending upwardly beyond said inwardly turned liangein contact therewith around the periphery of said vacuum cleaner so asto form a closure, said sheet member and said `lirst casing memberforming between them a fan housing, diffusion chamber, and plenumchamber all connected to the remainder of said inclosure only throughsaid fan, the remainder of said inelosure forming a dust receivingchamber, an opening in said first casing member, a tubular memberextending from said first casing member opening into said plenumchamber, said tubular member having an opening in the side thereofcommunicating with said plenum chamber 9 N and having an opening at theend thereof communicating with said dust receiving chamber, movablemeans closing said tubular member side opening and opening said tubularmember end opening in the first position thereof and closing saidtubular member and opening and opening said tubular member side openingin the second position thereof, said first casing member having aplurality of spaced openings in said flange thereof, said sheet memberhaving a plurality of spaced openings formed in said upwardly extendingportion thereof, an annular member overlying said first casing memberflange and said sheet member upwardly extending portion and having twopluralities of spaced openings formed therein, said annular member beingmovable relative to said casing member by said movable means, one ofsaid pluralities of openings of said annular member and said pluralityof openings of said casing member flange being out of register in therst position of said movable means so that there are no openingsprovided and coinciding in the second position of said movable means,said second plurality of openings of said annular member and saidplurality of openings of said sheet member upwardly extending portioncoinciding in the first position of said movable means and being out ofregister in the second position of said movable means so that there areno openings provided by the combination of said upwardly extendingportion and said annular member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,277,069 Burwell Mar. 24, 1942 2,597,690 Wied May 20, 1952 2,652,902Sheahan Sept. 22, 1953 2,740,494 Buda Apr. 3, 1956 2,751,038 AchesonJune 19, 1956 2,757,753 Kasper Aug. 7, 1956 2,771,151 Osborn Nov. 20,1956

